The latest local news, weather and high school sports in and around Columbia and Jefferson City

Sheriff's Deputies had to use pepper spray to arrest a Holts Summit man who they said was driving while intoxicated.

48-year-old Edward Pecher was booked in the Maries County Jail.

The Maries County Sheriff's Department said they responded to a report of a drunk driver Wednesday driving down Ball Park Road just outside of Vienna. 

As deputies followed Pecher, they said his vehicle nearly hit a bridge on the wrong side of the road.

Deputies pulled him over, but Pecher resisted arrest and police used pepper spray to apprehend him.

Pecher was arrested for felony DWI, felony driving while suspended, and careless and imprudent driving. 

Deputies say Pecher is a chronic DWI offender with multiple guilty pleas in various Mid-Missouri counties. The Sheriff’s Department reviewed Pecher’s criminal and driving history and said it showed the following:

On 5-10-2006 a guilty plea for DWI out of Holts Summit, on 09-04-2007 a guilty plea for excessive BAC out of Callaway County Circuit Court, on 01-22-2008 a guilty plea for operated a vehicle without a valid drivers license out of Callaway County Circuit Court, on 1-11-2008 a guilty plea for Resisting Arrest out of Callaway County Circuit Court, on 05-02-2011 a guilty plea for DWI out of Callaway County Circuit Court, on 08-01-2011 a guilty plea for DWI out of Cole County Circuit Court, on 08-01-2011 a guilty plea for driving while suspended out of Cole County.